JP2010061011A - Optical connector boot and optical connector using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical connector boot that facilitates mounting operation on a housing, and also to provide an optical connector using the boot. <P>SOLUTION: The optical connector boot 100 is composed of a boot body 10 formed in a tubular shape with a flexible material, with a notch 15 provided in the boot body 10 in the mounting end 11 to be connected to the housing. This notch 15 is 3-7 mm long, 0.5-1.5 mm wide, and is provided on both sides of the boot body 10 oppositely facing. The optical connector 101 is composed of: the optical connector boot 100, a housing 20, and an MT ferrule 30. As a result, the mounting operation on the housing is facilitated, with productivity improved in an assembling operation of the optical connector, and with the quality of the optical connector secured. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connector boot for connecting an optical fiber used in an optical communication system, for example, a multi-fiber optical fiber connector boot such as JIS standard JIS C 5982 F13 type and an optical connector using the same. It is.

  In recent years, with the increase in communication speed, communication remoteness, and communication data volume, the use of optical fibers (optical cables) instead of conventional metal signal lines as a medium for transmitting signals in communication systems has increased rapidly. ing. Optical connectors for connecting optical fibers are important components for ensuring the reliability and flexibility of optical communication networks. In order to configure future optical communication networks economically and flexibly, Performance, high reliability, and compact optical connectors are becoming increasingly important.

  When wiring various optical fibers (optical cables), it is possible to switch and connect the core wires using corresponding connectors. For example, when connecting tape-shaped optical fibers (so-called optical fiber ribbons) in a switchable manner, a so-called MT-type optical connector (Mechanically Transferable) or JIS C 5982 as enacted in JIS C 5982 or the like. The so-called MPO connector having a structure in which the ferrule for optical connector established in the housing is housed in the housing is often used, and the optical fiber connected by the optical connector is housed in the rear end portion of these optical connectors, A connector boot for holding and restricting the bending of the optical fiber is attached.

  For example, a connector boot as shown in FIG. 3 is attached to the rear end of the housing of the optical connector, and an optical cable is inserted into the optical connector to protect the optical fiber and bend the optical fiber. As shown in FIG. 3, the conventional connector boot 1 includes a boot body 10 </ b> A formed in a cylindrical shape from a flexible material. The boot main body 10A has a mounting end 11 connected to the housing of the optical connector and an optical cable insertion end 12 through which an optical cable is inserted. A plurality of upper slits 13 are provided on the upper side of the boot main body 10, and the boot main body 10A is provided. A plurality of lower slits 14 are provided on the lower side. This conventional connector boot 1 is a JIS standard JIS C 5982 F13 type multi-core optical fiber connector boot.

  In addition, even if a load is applied to the optical fiber cord connected to the optical connector, a connector capable of reducing transmission loss by preventing a sharp bend at the connection portion between the optical fiber cord and the optical connector. Boots have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the connector boot proposed in Patent Document 1, the covering portion of the optical fiber cord of the boot body is formed in a taper so as to become thinner from the base portion toward the rear end, and the length direction of the covering portion is Two pairs of slits that are orthogonally opened and symmetrically open to the outside are formed in pairs with a pair of slits alternately displaced 90 ° in the circumferential direction and formed at a predetermined pitch in the length direction. The fiber cord is configured to be set so that it is maximized on the base side of the covering portion and gradually decreases toward the rear end side.

JP-A-8-122567

  However, the conventional connector boot is made of synthetic rubber or elastic plastic, has a predetermined hardness to prevent excessive deformation of the optical fiber, and does not easily extend due to the thickness of the boot body. Also, a convex fitting part is also provided inside the mounting end that connects to the housing, and it was a shape that required a fitting force when covering the rear end of the housing. Have difficulty.

  Moreover, when forcibly mounting, there is a problem that the mounting portion (mounting end) of the boot body is torn.

  For this reason, there is a problem in that the productivity in assembling the optical connector is poor and it is difficult to ensure the quality.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of such problems, and by providing a notch along the longitudinal direction of the boot body on the side of the boot body that is connected to the housing, when mounting on the housing. An object of the present invention is to provide a boot for an optical connector that can be easily assembled, improve productivity in assembling work of the optical connector, and ensure the quality of the optical connector, and an optical connector using the same.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a boot for an optical connector according to the present invention is attached to the rear end of a housing containing a ferrule to which an optical fiber is fixed, and an optical cable is inserted therein to limit the bending of the optical fiber. An optical connector boot comprising a boot body formed in a cylindrical shape by a flexible material, and a cut portion is provided along a longitudinal direction of the boot body on a side of the boot body that is connected to the housing. It is characterized by.

  For example, the cut portion has a length of 3 to 7 mm and a width of 0.5 to 1.5 mm. Moreover, the said notch part is provided in the both sides which a boot main body opposes.

  For example, the boot body is formed of rubber or plastic having elasticity.

  An optical connector according to the present invention is an optical connector using the above-described optical connector boot, and includes a ferrule to which an optical fiber is fixed and a housing in which the ferrule is accommodated. That is, the optical connector boot is formed of a boot body formed in a cylindrical shape by a flexible material, and a cut portion is provided along the longitudinal direction of the boot body. For example, the cut portion has a length of 3 to 7 mm and a width of 0.5 to 1.5 mm, and is provided on opposite sides of the boot body. For example, the boot body is formed of rubber or plastic having elasticity.

  According to the present invention, the optical connector boot and the optical connector using the optical connector can be easily mounted on the housing by providing the cut portion along the longitudinal direction of the boot body on the side of the boot body connected to the housing. As a result, productivity can be improved in the assembly work of the optical connector, and the quality of the optical connector can be ensured.

  A best mode for carrying out an optical connector boot and an optical connector using the same according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an optical connector boot 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of the optical connector 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a state where the optical connector boot 100 is connected to the housing 20.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the boot 100 for optical connectors consists of the boot main body 10 formed in the cylinder shape with the flexible material. The boot body 10 has a mounting end 11 connected to a housing 20 (see FIG. 2) and an optical cable insertion end 12 through which an optical cable is inserted. A convex fitting portion 16 that is fitted to the rear end of the housing 20 is provided inside the mounting end 11. The boot body 10 is made of rubber or plastic having elasticity.

  A plurality of upper slits 13 formed at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the boot body 10 are provided on the upper side of the boot body 10, and the lower side of the boot body 10 is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the boot body 10. A plurality of lower slits 14 formed at predetermined intervals are provided.

  In addition, a notch 15 is provided at the mounting end 11 connected to the housing 20 of the boot body 10. The notch 15 has a slit shape having a predetermined length and a predetermined width, and is provided on both opposite sides (both side surfaces) of the boot body 10. In this example, one cut portion 15 having a length of 5 mm and a width of 1.0 mm is provided on each of the left and right sides of the boot body 10.

  Moreover, it is desirable that the cut portion 15 has a length of 3 to 7 mm and a width of 0.5 to 1.5 mm. When the length of the cut portion 15 is shorter than 3 mm, the mounting end 11 is not easily deformed because the deformation of the mounting end 11 is small. On the other hand, when the length of the cut portion 15 is longer than 7 mm, the mounting end 11 can be greatly opened at the time of mounting, and it is easy to mount, but the strength of the mounting end 11 is reduced and the holding force after mounting is weakened. Therefore, there is a possibility of dropping from the housing 20. Further, when the width of the cut portion 15 is shorter than 0.5 mm, it is difficult to mold. On the other hand, when the width of the cut portion 15 is larger than 1.5 mm, the strength of the mounting end 11 is lowered, and the holding force after mounting may be weakened.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the optical connector 101 includes an optical connector boot 100, a housing 20 that houses a ferrule, and an MT ferrule 30 as a ferrule that fixes an optical fiber. The optical connector boot 100 is attached to the rear side of the housing 20 that houses the MT ferrule 30 to which the optical fiber 40 is fixed. This optical connector 101 conforms to an MPO connector (JIS C 5982 F13 type) and is an optical connector for a multi-core optical fiber.

  The optical connector boot 100 for protecting the optical fiber is provided at the rear portion of the optical housing 30. At the time of assembling the optical connector 101, the terminal-treated multi-core optical fiber is inserted into the MT ferrule 30 through the optical connector boot 100 and fixed. Then, the optical connector boot 100 is attached to the rear end of the housing 20. In this case, the optical connector boot 100 is mounted by being fitted into a fitting portion provided at the rear end of the housing 20.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the optical connector boot 100 includes the boot body 10 formed in a cylindrical shape by a flexible material, and has a notch at the mounting end 11 connected to the housing 20 of the boot body 10. 15 is provided. The cut portion 15 has a length of 3 to 7 mm and a width of 0.5 to 1.5 mm. Further, the cut portions are provided on opposite sides of the boot body 10.

  The optical connector 101 includes an optical connector boot 100, a housing 20, and an MT ferrule 30.

  Thus, by providing a cut portion having a predetermined length and a predetermined width along the longitudinal direction of the boot body on the side of the boot body connected to the housing, the optical connector can be easily assembled when mounted on the housing. In the assembly operation, productivity can be improved and the quality of the optical connector can be ensured.

  In the above-described embodiment, the description has been given of the case where the cut portions 15 are provided on opposite sides of the boot main body 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the cut portion 15 may be provided only on one side of the boot body 10.

  Moreover, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the cut | notch part 15 is a rectangle, ie, the terminal part is formed flat (refer FIG. 1), However, It is not limited to this. For example, the end portion of the cut portion 15 may be formed in a curved shape such as a semicircle. In this case, when attaching to the housing, the end portion is not easily cracked due to deformation.

  In the above-described embodiment, the JIS standard JIS C 5982 F13 type multi-core optical fiber connector boot has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to other multi-fiber optical fiber connectors or single-fiber optical fiber connectors.

  In the above-described embodiment, a ring-shaped member corresponding to the outer shape of the optical connector boot 100 is mounted on the outer periphery of the optical connector boot 100 on the housing mounting side, and the mounting end 11 of the optical connector boot 100 is mounted. You may make it reinforce. In this case, the ring-shaped member is formed of a material that is more difficult to deform than the optical connector boot 100. For example, the ring-shaped member is formed from a metal material such as stainless steel.

  The present invention can be used for an optical connector for connecting a multi-core optical fiber cable such as a tape. In particular, it can be used for the purpose of improving the efficiency of the assembly work of the MPO optical connector for optical fiber cables such as tape.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the boot 100 for optical connectors of embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the optical connector 101 of embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the conventional boot for optical connectors.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conventional optical connector boot 10 Boot body 11 Mounting end 12 Optical cable insertion end 13 Upper slit 14 Lower slit 15 Notch 16 Fitting portion 20 Housing 30 MT ferrule 31 Optical fiber 32 Guide pin 40 Optical fiber cable 100 Optical connector boot 101 Optical connector

Claims (5)

A boot for an optical connector that is attached to the rear end of a housing that contains a ferrule to which an optical fiber is fixed, an optical cable is inserted into the optical connector to protect the optical fiber,
It consists of a boot body formed into a cylindrical shape with a flexible material,
A boot for an optical connector, wherein a cut portion is provided along a longitudinal direction of the boot main body on a side of the boot main body connected to the housing.   2. The optical connector boot according to claim 1, wherein the cut portion has a length of 3 to 7 mm and a width of 0.5 to 1.5 mm.   The optical connector boot according to claim 1, wherein the cut portions are provided on opposite sides of the boot body.   The optical connector boot according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the boot body is made of rubber or plastic having elasticity. An optical connector using the optical connector boot according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An optical connector comprising: a ferrule to which an optical fiber is fixed; and a housing in which the ferrule is accommodated.

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